N. Summers

Nikita Summers || 29 || Marine Biologist at Shedd Aquarium || Scuba Diver || Single || Pansexual || California Native|| dependent rp blog for chicagchq ||

[thediversummers]

                                            Nikita’s Playlist

1. Take It Off - Kesha || 2. Hips Don’t Lie (Bamboo Version) - Shakira || 3. S&M - Rhianna || 4. Born This Way - Lady Gaga || 5. Savage Love - Jason Derulo || 6. Listen - Beyonce || 7. Freedom - George Michael || 8. She Wolf - Shakira || 9. Rain On Me - Lady Gaga || 10. Disturbia - Rhianna || 11. Me Too - Meghan Trainor || 12. Teeth - 5SOS || 13. Pretty Girl - Maggie Lindemann || 14. So Am I - Ava Max || 15. Angel Eyes - ABBA (Mamma Mia 2)

[thediversummers]

bonnie​:

It was on a bench in front of a massive tank housing an impressive collection of moon jellyfish that Bonnie patiently waited for Nikita’s arrival. Jellyfish were her favorite sea creatures and her gaze stayed transfixed on the glass, mesmerized by the pulsing translucent orbs floating so carefully through the deep blue water. With her spine as straight as it could be without support and her slim legs pressed together and tucked beneath her, she sat so still that to a few passerby’s she almost didn’t look real. If not for a slow blink every so often she could very well have been another exhibit. On difficult days, when she couldn’t break from her routines, she could sit there for hours and find peace. It was how she had met Nik, in this very spot. Most people didn’t pay much attention to her, being forgettable was a talent that Bonnie often used to her advantage. But Nikita had noticed her. Bonnie seemed to have an unintentional knack for attracting unique companions since moving to America. Each different from the next and each she treasured with every bit of her heart. At the sound of the nickname Bonnie only ever allowed the platinum blonde to call her she glanced up and smiled, returning the wave. She was on time, Bonnie noted in relief. It didn’t matter how long she knew the woman the few minutes before their meeting she always worried that today would be the day she didn’t arrive. But she always did. “Nikita” she greeted, tucking the hair behind her ears. “I’ve been well, I spent the morning here. There’s three new jellyfish” she pointed out, a hint of excitement in her voice. Most people wouldn’t have noticed but she could tell them apart. “How has work been? I walked past the Caribbean Reef exhibit and saw you diving. I didn’t want to disturb you” 

As someone who had often hung out by herself while her dad was working, she knew two things: 1) sometimes people sat alone to be left alone and 2) sometimes people did want to be hanging out with someone but there wasn’t anyone around to do so with. Needless to say, Nik had approached Bonnie carefully, giving the other every opportunity to turn her away. Now here they were friends who shared lunch together practically everyday when Nikita was working at the aquarium. She’d started looking forward to her lunch because of Bon, and even started bringing extra food to share with her. The anticipated lunch even spurring her to make a different desert every time for something special for the two. The two women probably couldn’t be anymore different, and yet somehow had things in common. Either way, Nikita had definitely grown fond of the other and thoroughly loved anytime she got with her. As she laid out the small cloth she brought with on the bench and pulled out the various containers to set on top, she couldn’t help but grin as she listened to Bonnie talk. Honestly Nik for some reason found it adorable that her friend was so observant that she could tell the jellyfish apart enough to notice the additions. “You never cease to impress me, love. I’m pretty sure some of the others who work here haven’t even noticed that there are more yet.” Her gaze shifted to the jellyfish in the tank. Sometimes she liked to add certain sea life to various exhibits without telling Bonnie so she’d have something new to discover. Course she kept it to herself that she had a hand in it, but she loved seeing her friend’s reaction to it. “It’s been good, I’m not quite looking forward to helping clean the tanks later but so far my day hasn’t been too bad. Of course I’m having lunch with you now so my day has definitely improved.” She smiled warmly. “Always know you can come talk to me when I’m diving, you can even ask questions if you want for fun. I’ll never pass up the chance to get to talk to you.”

[thediversummers]

james​:

“That’s probably a good idea.” James laughed, looking up at her from her menu. “Because if you’re counting on me to have remembered where we’ve been, that’s like a giant gamble there.” He gave a playful shrug of his shoulders, though the smile never faltered from his lips one bit. James paid close attention at her recommendations, rubbing at his cheek some. “Hmm, we could maybe each do tacos? Then get the nachos to share? Honestly, it all looks so, so good.” If there was one thing he knew he liked, it was food and trying different kinds and new places. He was always on the look out for something new, something different, and as his eyes scanned the menu, so much of it caught his attention. “The shrimp tacos are tempting me-” He laughed, eyes briefly scanning the menu one more. “But so are those chicken tacos. I can’t make up my mind with this.” James shook his head, easily relaxing into Nik’s company. He didn’t remember her from before he had served, had no idea what their friendship had been like before but that didn’t stop him from enjoying it now. It seemed like she was one of the few people who didn’t mind that he couldn’t remember, who took the time to get to re know him, who didn’t expect him to be the same as he had once been. He paused for a few more seconds. “Alright, alright, I’m gonna go with those shrimp tacos. If not, I’m never gonna settle on anything.” He laughed, looking across the table at her.

“I think the alcohol and all the salt water I swallowed over the years is starting to take effect and mess with my head.” She joked, her eyes going cross eyed for affect. “Ah but see I’m a gambling woman so I would take that chance...and always bet on black. Write that one down.” Niki smirked softly. Her experience had been mainly in any island casinos, which were more common than most would probably think. She relaxed back into her chair a little more, looking up at James when he spoke. “I like that idea, do the nachos for an appetizer maybe and the tacos for the main course?” Whenever she went somewhere new the blonde tended to get a few things when she couldn’t decide on one in particular. And if she was out with a friend? She loved sharing food, it was a habit she’d gotten even more use to with Bonnie. “Listen, for one you can always try some of mine if you want. If not, we can always come back another time and get it too.” Nik knew she’d be back again, no problem there. Times like this, when she got to hang out with James meant a lot to her. She hadn’t gotten to know him as much as she would’ve like to before the accident, so she was always excited to learn more about him now. “Alright, that sounds good. I’m gonna get the chicken cause one; I love them, and two; then you can try some if you want.” She chuckled. “Gotta keep the options open right?”

[thediversummers]

val​:

“A rum drink will always fuck me up.” He grinned. “An’ I love it.” He added quickly, leaning back with a laugh. “Ye’re really makin’ me want a fancy drink. Can we go get some harborside cocktails?” He asked, sitting up a little bit. “No, unfortunately. Haven’t been back… but I want to. We’ll have t’go together, get wasted on the beach near Baha Mar, drunk off fruity-ass beverages.” He grinned. “Now! Are we gettin’ drinks or what?” He asked, already standing up.

“Ugh same though, rum is my alcohol of choice in a drink.” Niki basically moaned softly. At the question the blonde sat up from her lounging position too, nodding. “I would kill for some harborside cocktails right now. You read my mind once again.” The idea of getting wasted on a beach somewhere was definitely appealing to the woman. She’d always considered the beach to be a safe space, so anything to do with it had her attention. “That sounds like the perfect vacation Val. You know if it involves anywhere tropical I’m hooked immediately.” Niki stood up with him, moving to link arms with him. “Absolutely, first round’s on me. No arguments.” 

[thediversummers]

ike:

“I hear sharks get a bad rap. Like, most of them are just doin’ their shark thing, minding their shark business, and not, you know, trying to eat you. I blame the movies. Unless the one you met, like, really came for you, you know? In which case, I retract my argument.” Ike offered a shrug. He truly did not know much about sea creatures, lifelong phobia of walruses and all. “My mom was into things like that. Very 1970s Barbie Dream House, you know? Love her to bits, but…something something good taste. It’s always our mothers, though. You think I just woke up one morning and decided to get a neck tattoo? No.” He sighed deeply. “Ah! That’s cool. Real…in your face kind of work, I feel. With your hands. More power to you. Me? I’d get the bends. I’d be bends guy. They’d tell you about me in the safety instruction video. Don’t be like bends guy.” Humming a little to himself as he finished off the drink, Ike managed a smile as he set the glass aside.

“Followed in his footsteps then? Or did he, like, study the islands themselves? And you, said, dad, all this sand is lame. Can we do something else?” He wiggled his brow. “I guess they do, huh? Train in pools, I mean. Me, I just want to eat the weird powdered food. You’ve been to Alaska too then, though? What sorts of sea critters live out there? I feel like that’s where all the halibut comes from. Big, bustling halibut industry.” 

“They really do, the 47 Meters Down movies even freak me out and I’ve dove with sharks before. See you understand it better than most people, sharks won’t bug you if you don’t bug them. Honestly I think that shark was just curious. I was on my surfboard, and I’m sure my limbs sticking out on either side of the board made me look like a seal. Otherwise it probably wouldn’t have bugged me, ya know?” It was on her list to go shark diving again whenever she got the chance. “My dad showed me pictures of the house we had with my mom way back when I was little, and it definitely needed some Property Brother’s or some makeover team up in there. It made me happy that I mainly grew up on a boat instead.” She chuckled. “I like the tattoo, I have a few myself but they’re all over.” Nikita couldn’t help but grin as she listened to the man talk. “You can definitely call it that, its a lot of fun. Course the downside is sometimes I have to help clean the tanks, but my marine biology degree definitely comes in handy by giving me other stuff too do instead. Honestly I do believe you’d be the first person to get the bends from diving in the aquarium, thankfully they’re not quite deep enough. But just to be on the safe side if you ever want to learn how to dive call me up and I’d be happy to teach you.” Niki kept up with her dive instructor certification just so she could teach people if they wanted to learn.

“I did yeah.” Niki shook her head as she laughed. “Nah he studied the aquatic life around the coast, but I definitely would have told him the sand was boring and lame if he studied the islands themselves. I’ve always been more of a water girl; he’d be out on the boat and I’d most likely be surfing or swimming.” The blonde leaned back in her chair slightly. “I think I tried the powdered ice cream one time when we went to Kennedy Space Center. Wasn’t too bad but the real thing is always going to be better. In Alaska dad studied the various whales mostly, we also saw a few dolphins and seals when we were up there too. Have you heard of some of the giant halibut they’ve caught up there? It’s insane, one was 500 pounds I believe. So big is definitely a word for them up there.”

[thediversummers]

magnolia:

The brunette smirked as she looked over at the woman, giving a shrug. “Don’t know, but people can get boring. I’m sure we never will, but I thought one friend was still down for shots and she suddenly said she was too old. Which she’s my age, so that’s just weird as hell to begin with, but now I double check.” She considered herself young, so maybe she just thought she was crazy when she heard someone say that twenty five is too old to do shots. “We never do. And it always ends in fun as well,” Maggie gave a soft nudge to Nikita, the smirk staying on her face. “On three?” 

“As someone who is staring down her 30th birthday this year, I can guarantee you it will take a lot to make me turn boring. I think I’m in a perpetual state of oddness and fun until my liver or heart give out.” She reassured. “I feel like I need to have a talk with her if a 25 year old feels she’s too old for shots.” Nikita laughed. At 21 she could pretty much drink anyone under the table, and that was saying something since she knew quite a few sailors. “It most certainly does...” Niki grinned before nodding, picking up the shot glass set in front of her. “On three. One...two...”

[thediversummers]

nicolette​:

“France,” Nicolette answered quickly. “It’s been too long since I’ve been and I’d love to go to a country and speak a language other than English.” What’s the point of being fluent in French if she never used it in Chicago? “California sounds nice too. Sometimes I work on planning trips and I never actually taken them. Wine tasting in Napa. Surf lessons in San Diego. What I’d do to stroll down Rodeo Drive again. Ugh.” Nicolette used to travel to the west coast often with her career in fashion, but for the past five years she seemed to settle down in Chicago. “Where did you live there?”

“Ooh, good choice. I’ve personally never been but its on my list.” Nikita smiled at that. “You speak French then I’m guessing? That’s awesome! I know bits and pieces of various languages; Hawaiian, Samoan, and few others. Nothing too spectacular though.” Revisiting places had definitely help add to her knowledge. “Its definitely beautiful, save for the trips my dad took us on Cali was my home when we were docked there. Wine tasting if definitely fun, and as a surfer myself San Diego was great for surfing.” Her surfboard back at her place just kept nagging at her to use it again, soon hopefully. “I lived in La Jolla, just north of San Diego actually.”

[rxlics-deactivated20210605]

“You really did call me here because of a cat– I thought you were joking at first when you called me,” Skelly stated as he stepped out of his truck after pulling up to the curb. He gazed up at the tree before frowning when he had gotten a better look. “That tree isn’t even eight-foot-tall,” the firefighter who was of duty, exclaimed. “You can’t tell me that you’re not capable of climbing up there to get ‘em yourself?” he only teased. Skelly pouted when hearing the kitten’s soft cries. “Also… since when did you get a cat?”

[thediversummers]

“I know, cliche right? Call a firefighter about a cat stuck in a tree?” Nikita couldn’t help but chuckle, grinning as Skelly walked up. The blonde swung her gaze back to the cat, her hands planted on her hips as she quirked her mouth to the side. At the man’s exclamation of the tree’s height, Niki shook her head with the laugh. “Oh I’m quite capable of climbing it, but I wanted a witness and someone nearby who can call 911 in case I slip and fall. I learned that the hardway one time so I’m covering all my bases.” She smirked. Her hands raised in defense, shaking her head. “I actually don’t but I saw this one up in the tree when I was walking so, I couldn’t leave it up there ya know?”

[thediversummers]

val​:

“What was in it, besides pineapple?” He asked curiously. It definitely sounded like a good time- and something he would pound down in one go. “Old shack bars in tropical places have the best drinks, though. They don’t fuckin’ go easy on you. I went t’the Bahamas right before I graduated college. Just turned 21, went t’this daiquiri spot. They made fresh blended daiquiris, then if y’wanted them boozy, they’d just pour the spiced rum right on top. Y’mixed it all up at the end.” He laughed. “So I had a watermelon kiwi daiquiri in this GIANT glass, and was walkin’ funny all the way down to the casino.”

“Rum I know for sure, I think some coconut alcohol in it too? It was really a messed up version of a Smuggler-which is one of my favorite drinks-but all I know was it was strong.” Niki laughed. It’d tasted amazing, she just wish she’d known what was in it. Maybe if she made it back to Hawaii she’d ask. “They really are! Ok those daiquiris sound amazing, now I really want to go there just to have one...or two.” She joked, never one to turn down alcohol. Granted she watched how much she had, and didn’t have alcohol all the time, but she loved trying different drinks. Nikita smiled at her friend. “I love that, have you been back since? I’ve definitely been itching to travel somewhere tropical lately. Maybe I’ll have to go to the Bahamas next time.”

[sense8screencaps]

[thediversummers]

@thediversummers​ posted a new photo

“Happy 2020 Pride everyone!! Here’s a photo of my pan arse at Pride this year, having the time of my life. Love to all of my LGBTQ+ babes out there, wave your flags proud cause you’re all fabulous.”

Likes 265 | Comments 89 | Leave a Comment

[magnoliahazel-r]

Maggie was sitting at the bar, the brunette on her third whiskey and coke. Needless to say that the whiskey wasn’t doing enough for her, calling the bartender over. “Hey! Round of tequila for the bar. Top shelf,” she pointed at him, giving a smirk over to the person beside her. “I hope you’re ready to have fun. I can’t drink with anyone boring. Or at least pretend to have fun. It’s a good night and we can’t ruin it.”

[thediversummers]

Nikita always enjoyed when she and Maggie could actually get together and go out to do something fun. Drinking? That definitely fell in the category of fun for the blonde. Finishing off her something tropical drink, Nik couldn’t help but grin when Magnolia ordered tequila. “Now babe when have I ever not been ready to have fun? This is me we’re talking about.” She retorted playfully, nudging the other woman. “Well that’s why we’re out together isn’t it? To make the most of the night? We normally don’t have too much trouble with accomplishing that.” Niki winked. 

[wandasmaximoff]

I never understood the word presence until we were together .

[theiconcreative]

[thediversummers]

ike​:

“I mean, I’ve never surfed. And for good reason. I’d drown. Get swallowed by a whale or some shit, you know? Step on a jellyfish. Kidnapped by pirate ghosts. My ma did have this awful powder pink palm leaf wallpaper in the bathroom when I was kid, though. It was textured too, like, these little ridges when you touched it. Little, you know, toilet spray trenches for catchin’ germs. Not sanitary; not Hawaii. But maybe she thought it was.” Ike snorted a little, making something of a face as he rambled on. Of course, he had been drinking a bit, but he never needed a buzz to talk. It just happened. “Do they let you go swimming at the aquarium? I mean, I guess there’s those people who make the seal jump through the hoop. Oh, and I knew this lady who was a mermaid. Not a real one.” He hummed softly, shaking his head as he fiddled with his own glass. “Wanderlust. Sure, alright, yeah. I mean, I’ve never gone anywhere. I never even been to Chicago before, like, two weeks ago. I don’t like planes, you know? But what can you do? Drive? Ride a train? Do I look like an Industrial Revolution steel conglomerate tycoon? Wish I could travel to space, though. That’d be dope. But if we’re talking, you know, purely terrestrial, maybe Alaska, you feel? I feel like it’s the kind of place that could make you feel small.” 

“I understand that completely, my dad essentially put me in surf lessons when I was a kid and I was hooked. But trust me I had a run in with a shark when I was like 9? When I was out surfing and it definitely shook me up for a bit. But now I work with sharks so I guess you could say I evolved?” Her brows rose when he described the wall paper, her nose scrunching a bit as she smirked. “Oh gosh really? That definitely sounds...I believe interesting is the best word I can use right now? Something for the photo albums I’m sure.” Nik chuckled. That was definitely not the most stylish wallpaper she’d ever heard of, definitely unique she was sure. “They do yeah! Well me specifically because I’m one of the divers that dive in a few of the tanks and do Q&A’s. Its a lot of fun cause I get to feed the fish then too. I have yet to dress up like a mermaid, though I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to it if they decided to add that in.” She smirked, she already had a mermaid scale tattoo on her foot, so she was partly there. Nik grabbed the new drink the bartender set before her, taking a sip instantly. “I get the part about the planes for sure. My dad and I did some flying, but mostly we traveled on our boat to the different islands he did research around. Ok listen, if you figure out a way to get us to space I’m so there for it. I think it’d be really cool to experience zero gravity like that, I imagine it feels kind of like being in water. Guess that’s why astronauts train in pools eh?” The blonde quickly nodded. “Oh for sure. Alaska is pretty cool to go to. If you ever decide to go just let me know and I can offer up some places you might like to visit there.”

[thediversummers]

james​:

James was leaned back in his chair some, listening as Nik talked. A gentle smile on his face as she continued on with her story, giving a small laugh here and there. “Well, it’s a good thing you haven’t had any at your work.” James grinned over at her, finally leaning forward some and reaching for his water, taking a small sip, another grin instantly making its way back on his lips. If it makes you feel any better, I can’t remember if you have brought here before or not.” He raised his eyebrows some at her, the corner of his lips quirked up. “But I’m ready to experience what might be the best tacos I ever had.” He sat his glass back down, once more leaning back in his chair. He enjoyed hanging out with Nik but there was also a part of him that couldn’t shake the odd feeling. It was strange to him, that she had known him before his accident in the army, that she remembered him from before, while he remembered hardly nothing about himself. And how strange it must have been for her to go from knowing one version of him to now getting to know another. But she had stuck around, she hadn’t bailed like his parents had done when he came back with a brain injury. Hanging out with her, having friends that he was close with, it was the sense of normalcy that he craved after everything that had happened. “Mhmm, any suggestions of what I should order from here?” James asked, reaching for the menu finally, brow knit with concentration as his eyes scanned over it.

“Thankfully,” She nodded with a laugh. “At the very least, lord forbid something does happen with a shark and me, it doesn’t happen when kids are around cause that would be worse than the bite.” Nik didn’t want kids to be scared of sharks if they didn’t have to be. They left you alone for the most part, and she wanted the kiddos to learn that firsthand. When James spoke again, she let out a soft laugh, smirking. “You do have a good point there. I’m going to have to start a list of places I’ve taken you to so we both have a record at least.” Nik was happy he could make light of his situation, that always seemed to be a good sign whenever someone went through something tough. “Good, cause I’ve been dying to finally get some time with you to take you here.” She’d known James before his time in the army, not quite as well as she knew him now but she still remembered him. When she’d heard what had happened she’d wanted to be there for him, and help him however she can. She couldn’t imagine going through something like that, but she did know that it was easier to get through things and get adjusted to a situation when you had people around who wanted to help. And Niki was one of them. Becoming friends with the blonde ensured someone who stuck by you. “Hmm, let’s see. Well all of the tacos are phenomenal. I’m partial to the chicken and steak ones, but the nachos are really amazing too. We can always get a few things and share too if nothing really specific catches your eye.” Nik offered, sometimes that was the best way to try lots of things.

[thediversummers]

Closed Starter || Bonnie Ridgewell & Nikita Summers @bonbonridgewell

Working at the aquarium was something Niki absolutely loved. Since Chicago wasn’t near any ocean it was her way of getting her salt water fix. The exhibits, her diving position, all of it reminded her of her dad in the best way. But one of her favorite things about working at Shedd? That would be the lunch routine she and Bonnie had gotten into. Ever since she’d befriended the other woman who came to the aquarium often, Nikita had started bringing extra food in case she was seated in their spot...which seemed to be the case most days, and she loved it. She got to spend time with someone who wasn’t her coworkers, and she truly enjoyed the time she got to steal with Bonnie.

Walking out of the backroom, lunch cooler in hand, Niki made her way through the various exhibits until she finally spotted Bonnie seated at their usual lunch spot. “Hi B,” She waved, plopping down next to the other with a warm smile. “How has your day been so far?”

[thediversummers]

“I’d love to go back to California sometime, even Hawaii...really just anywhere tropical because I would kill to catch some waves. Feels like forever since I’ve gone surfing.” Which for the Cali native was like a cardinal sin. Going swimming in Lake Michigan was enough to satisfy her need to swim in open water that wasn’t a swimming pool, but it never quite came close to the ocean. “I guess I get my salt water fix at the aquarium, but its not the same, you know?” She knocked back the rest of her Smuggler before setting the glass down on the bar, waving for the bartender’s attention. “Maybe the wanderlust part of me is getting the better of me again, I find it tends to do that sometimes. Guess you’d have to blame my dad, he dragged me around the world so I was bred on traveling.” She laughed, propping her chin on her fist, she turned her attention to the person she’d been talking to. “Any place in particular you want to travel to?” @chicagcstart